The usefulness of online symptom checkers - patients perspective

Online Symptom Checker (OSC) is an intelligent system widely used in healthcare such as primary care, remote care, and disease management. Online symptom checkers like AIDO (AI-based accurate diagnosis) uses algorithms based on machine learning or Artificial intelligence to facilitate symptom-based self-diagnosis and triage for Patients.

Symptom checkers usually cover the patient's three health needs.

1 They provide information that allows patients to explore more about the symptoms and conditions they know or think they have. Additionally, they help to track their symptom from the very beginning. As symptoms and their extent keep changing throughout the illness

2 Patients may want to know if their symptoms require treatment or further investigation. This is a medical triage that guides the patient to the most appropriate place within a reasonable time frame. Suggested next steps depend on the nature and urgency of the symptoms, or the underlying cause, and may require further investigation.

3 Patients may want to understand the conditions that can cause their symptoms. This corresponds to a diagnosis and is usually done by an experienced doctor. While visiting doctors, patients are not new to the medical terms used by their health care providers

According to a survey conducted recently, most patients found the medical information on online symptoms checkers very useful as it provided them with insights leading closer to correct diagnoses. More than 50 %of patients reported positive health effects. Tools to get the right care at the right time are also useful, allowing you to make triage decisions clearly and more confidently.

Despite these benefits, health symptom checkers do have some limitations and even patients are often doubtful about the accuracy of such tools.

As the saying goes excess of everything is harmful. Always remember these tools are for primary help always consider your doctor for an emergency.